The recent global cyber attack has affected more than 200,000 people - so should you be worried about your own online security?

(Skip straight to 'Yes' if, like everyone else in the known universe, the free trial of your AntiVirus expired in 2014)

The NHS was hit here in the UK, but within 48 hours the majority of machines affected were back in operation. Companies across the company are expected to be running checks and updating software today.

What is the WannaCry virus?

The malware is a type of ransomware that seems to have spread via a computer virus known as a worm, meaning that it can move throughout a network without human interaction.

The malware sets up to receive payments of £230 in virtual currency Bitcoin, although it seems that most who have been affected have not paid up.

Microsoft issued a free patch for the weakness that has been exploited by the ransomware in march this year.

Should you be worried?

Firstly, you're only likely to be affected if you use a Windows operating system. The WannaCry virus, the name of the ransomware used for the cyber attack, does not affect other systems, such as Apple.

Home users are unlikely to be affected, but if you don't regularly update Windows and take care with emails, you may want to double check.

How you can protect your devices

You can protect yourself by installing updates, running anti-virus software and using firewalls. You should also take extra care when opening emails that are from an unusual sender.

Data needs to be backed up so that you can restore your files in the case of an attack. Even if you pay the ransom requested, there's no guarantee that you'll get all of your data back.

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Finally, visit the website for the UK's National Cyber Security Centre - nscs.gov.uk. Here, you'll find information on how to apply a security patch.

From: Cosmopolitan UK